NEWS

BP Oddo announced that he will again be joining with the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation to collect backpacks and school supplies for needy Staten Island families.

“Starting off the year with the necessary school supplies sets children off on a path towards academic success,” noted BP Oddo. “I’m asking Staten Islanders to give from their hearts and donate these items to help the less fortunate in our community. I want to thank the Atlas Foundation for collaborating with us again this year on this drive, which will help young students across the Island.”

Donations of brand new children’s backpacks, folders, crayons, markers, non-toxic glue sticks, notebooks, #2 pencils, construction paper, and other new school supplies will be accepted. Items can be dropped off in the box in the lobby of Borough Hall (10 Richmond Terrace) from 9am-5pm every weekday until Friday, August 25th. Volunteers from the Atlas Foundation will then distribute the items to families in need.

“The 1–2 punch is the most effective combination in boxing, and this partnership between the Dr. Atlas Foundation and the office of Borough President James Oddo is doing its part to knock out illiteracy in our schools,” said Teddy Atlas, Founder and Chairman of the Atlas Foundation. ​For more information on the drive, call Renee Sarno at (718) 816-2133 or email RSarno@statenislandusa.com.

On Monday, July 24, BP Oddo joined with DA Mike McMahon to announce the launch of SIHOPE.org. The website contains various resources related to the opioid epidemic, ranging from information on addiction treatment services to ways to report drug activity in your neighborhood. As part of the public awareness campaign, lawn signs will encourage Staten Islanders to visit the site.

“Getting the word out about all of the efforts undertaken on the opioid epidemic is really important,” noted BP Oddo. “The District Attorney’s new website is making it a little easier with one central location for folks to access information.”

"It's a one-stop shop for those battling addiction, those with a loved one who is struggling, or those who simply want to get involved in helping end this horrible crisis," said District Attorney Michael McMahon.

On Wednesday, July 19th, BP Oddo joined with Holly Leicht, Former Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to cohost a symposium on Sandy recovery at Baruch College.

​At the symposium, BP Oddo and other experts discussed Leicht’s recently completed report of 41 recommendations for how government can improve disaster recovery and preparedness.

“When the ‘recovery’ is harder on those impacted by the storm that the actual storm itself, government has failed,” said BP Oddo. “If we don't change the process, the results will not change. Holly Leicht's white paper lays out specific improvements. Just as important, it should spark a longer, candid and productive conversation about how each level of government must improve in its response to the next storm, which must then yield change.”

“We can’t keep making incremental change, it’s just not acceptable,” noted Leicht. “Let’s make these improvements so that we don’t find ourselves in the midst of that again.”

On Tuesday, July 18th, BP James Oddo joined with Council Member Joe Borelli and Borough Parks Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone to announce the allocation of $4 million in taxpayer money for a sensory playground at Prescott Playground in Huguenot. BP Oddo allocated $3.9 million, and Council Member Borelli allocated $100,000 for the project.

A sensory play area provides opportunities for all children, including those with autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorder, to develop physical coordination, social skills, and imaginative play behaviors in a shared, peer-play setting.

Some of the examples of play structures that can be included are: sand and water play for tactile stimulation, bright and patterned shapes for visual, talk tubes and musical play panels for auditory, play equipment such as swings and roller tables for cognitive awareness of movement and behavior, and balance walkers or climbers for focus on balance and special orientation.​“We want to see all of Staten Island enjoying our parks, and we want all of our kids with varying degrees of abilities to enjoy our parks,” said BP Oddo. “I think this is a statement on our values that we want to get this playground built.”

"Prescott Playground is the perfect spot for this sensory playground because it's in a quiet area," noted Parks Commissioner Ricciardone.

BP Oddo plans to form a working group from the special needs community to assist during the playground’s design phase.

On Thursday, July 6th, Borough Hall Plaza transformed into a boxing ring as BP Oddo welcomed boxer and Staten Island native Marcus Browne ahead of his big fight against Long Island's Seanie Monaghan.

Those gathered, including boxing commentator and local legend Teddy Atlas, spoke about Browne’s inspiring dedication and perseverance to his craft. After BP Oddo congratulated him and proclaimed July 6th as "Marcus Browne Day," Browne did a brief workout for fans.

"We're proud of him," said BP Oddo. "As he grows with his success in the ring, so, too, does his stature outside the ring. He's a role model for others to follow, and he recognizes that.”

Browne’s big fight against Monaghan will take place on July 15th at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.